Wash-over spear mechanism



Oct. 11, 1960 C. WARE WASH-OVER SPEAR MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Cew/ Ware INVENTOR;

BY Z Y A 7'7'0fi/V5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1956 Cec// WoreATTORNEV WASH-OVER SPEAR Cecil Ware, Greggton,,Tex., assignor to WashOvershot and Spear Engineers, Inc., Longview, Tex., a corporation ofTexas This invention relates to fishing tools and, more particularly toa pipe spear adapted for usev within a washover pipe in the recovery ofstuck pipe in wells, and especially in the recovery of pipe or drillcollars which have become stuck in oif bottomposition in a well bore.

The invention finds particular utility in connection with the recoveryof drill pipe, drill collars, or the like, which have become stuck'in awell bore off bottom and which are broken off or have been uncoupled ata joint, the portion of the pipe below the break or uncoupled jointremaining in the bore. Under such conditions it is customary towash-over and around the stuck portion of the pipe by the use of awash-over pipe, the upper end of the stuck portion being engagedby apipe spear, so that upon freeing of the stuck portion it will not fallto bottom and i may be pulled out of the well bore, and may be removedfrom the wash-over pipe without performing 'a stripping operation. t

--The present invention has for an important object the provision of apipe spear which is adapted for use within I awash-over pipe andincluding means whereby the spear 'over'spear equipment,- having slipmechanism by which the spear may be anchored in or released from thewashover pipe and embodying slip'holding means adapted to be affected byhydrostatic pressure in a well, upon downward movement of the fish inthe well bore relative'to the wash-over pipe. Anotherobject of theinvention is to provide washover spear equipment having spear mechanismwhich is V with the annexed drawings, Wherein Figures 1A and 1B arefragmentary side elevational views, partly in cross-section,illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing theparts latched in the released condition of the spear, Figure 1B being adownward extension of Figure IA;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure 1A showing thespear anchoring mechanism of the in vention unlatched and in anchoringposition;

Figure 3 isa view similar to that of Figure 1A showing the spearanchoring mechanism unlatched and in releas ing position ortoperating orreaming position; and

. Figure 4 is across-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. a Referring now tothe drawings in greater detail, the invention comprises a mandrel 12,having at its upper end suitable means for connecting the same to thelower end of a string of pipe, such as a tool joint, orthe like, notshown, and provided at its lower end with suitable means, such as tooljoint thread to engage the top of a fish, the invention also includingspear mechanism of novel construction and arrangement to be anchored inthe washov'er pipe 10 in position to be engaged with the upper end of adrill collar orpipe which is stuck in a well bore.

The spear mechanism (or unit), of the invention in- -cludes an innertubular mandrel 12, whose upper end is formed with an externalenlargement 14, which is internally threaded'as indicated at 16, for theattachment thereto of any suitable type' of grappling means, or by meansof which an inner pipe may be connected in communication with themandrel. The lower end of the mandrel 12 is externally threaded asindicated at 18, forthe attachment thereto of an externally threaded pinelement 20, adapted to 'beengaged with theupper end of a drill collar orpipe in a .well bore (not shown), whereby the spear (unit) is connectedto such drill collar or pipe. Qther suitable grappling means. may, ofcourse, be attached to the lower endof the spear (unit) to be engagedwith well equipment stuck in the well bore.

The upper end of the pin element 20 forms an external upwardly facingshoulder 22,. adjacent the lower end :of the mandrel 12, fora purpose tobe more fully pointed out hereinafter. A slip assembly surrounds'themandrel 12, comprising a tubular slip'support 24, having a pin 30 Itherethrough, which Works in a longitudinal slot 26 in the And anotherobject of this invention is to provide a i hydraulic pressure to flow arestriction member to main- .tain the anchoring means of the well toolin a static position. i l Another object of the invention is'to providewashover spear equipment including spear mechanism for engagement with afish in a well and including mechanism for anchoring the spear tothe-wash-over pipe for rotation with the 'pipe, whereby the spear maybeconnected to'the fishsp'that an upward pull may be'exerted'on the fishby P in u w r Q e, sh-ove r a d .w i leleasableto permit independentmovement bffihe washover pipe relative to the spear, whereby thewash-over tubular mandrel 12, formed with a lateral branch slot 28substantially mediate its ends, the pin being engageable in the branchslot 28 to hold the slip support element 24 against longitudinalmovement on the mandrel, and being also movable out of the branch slotupon right hand rotation of the wash-over'pipe relative to the slipassembly, to

permit relative longitudinal movement of the mandrel and, assembly.

A number of upwardly tapering, externally toothed slips 32 are supportedat theirlower ends of the slip support 24. .The slips are capable oflateral movement relative to the slip support into and out of grippingengagement with the surrounding wash'over pipe 10. The slips aresupported on the supportt24, by means of screws 34,

an annular spring element 40 is seated, in position to yieldingly urgethe slip toward retracted position.

The slip support 24 has an externally reduced lower end portion 42, uponwhich an annular resilient element 44 is'positioned, in surroundingrelation-to the support, and having cup-like upper and lower portions 46and '48, respectively. The cups 46 and 48 are positioned for restrictedflowengagement with the interior of the washover pipe, and which is alsoin restricted flow engagement with the exterior of the slip support. Therestrictedflow element 44 may be formed of any suitable material havingthe requisite properties, such as rubber, or the like, but not limitedthereto, and may be provided with a medial ring 50, which seats upon thereduced lower end portion 42 of the support 24. The ring 50 is formedwith a plurality of spaced openings, such as that indicated at 52,through which the material of the sealing element is molded. The ring 50is retained in position on the slip support 24 by means of a sleeve 54,surrounding the support 24, and whose lower end is engageable with a nut56,-threaded upon the lower end of the support 24.

Beneath the slip assembly a friction block assembly is provided on themandrel, which comprises a tubular cage 64, surrounding the mandrel andwhich is formed with externally opening recesses 66, within whichfriction shoes 68 are positioned for radial movement relative to themandrel. Each of the friction shoes 68 are urged radially outwardly intofrictional contact with the interior of the wash-over pipe '10 bysuitable means, such as the coil-'spring'70. On the upper end of tubularcage 64 is cut a buttress thread 57 somewhat smaller than the outsidediameter of the cage 64, which threads are to receive the yieldableportion 61 on the nut 56.

This nut 56 has on its lower end an extended portion provided with aninternal buttress thread 57 which is engageable with an external thread59, shown in Figure 113, on the tubular cage 64. The nut 56 is slittedlongitudinally to provide a plurality of fingers 61, to make thisportion of nut 56 expansible, so that upon upward movement of wash-overpipe 10, tubular cage 64 will move upwardly to move the upper end of thecage into the nut 56 to engage the nut thread 57 with the cage thread 59and releasably connect the friction dog cage 64 with the lower end ofslip support 24, thus assuring sufficient friction to cause pin 30 to bemoved in slot '26. By rotation of the wash-over pipe the friction cage64 may be rotated therewith-through the contact of the friction shoes 68with the interior of the wash-over pipe to unscrew the thread 59 fromthe thread 57 to release the slip support 24 from the tubular cage 64.

The slips 32 are preferably of segment shape, as best seen in Figure 4,clearance being provided between the slips, as indicated at 58, and theslip support element 24 has a loose fit-on the mandrel 12, whereby fluidmay 'pass slowly between the slips'and upwardly or downwardly' betweenthe slip support and mandrel, while at the same time any sudden movementof mandrel 12 downwardly, such as may take place in the event the fishshould wash loose, will cause the slips 32 to engage the wall :of thewash-over pipe thereby preventing the fish from falling to the bottom.

The externally enlarged upper end portion 14 of the mandrel is formedwith a number of downwardly taperring flat faces 60, positioned forengagement with the inner tapering faces 62 of the slips 32, toexpand'the slips radially into gripping engagement with the interior ofthe wash-over pipe, upon downward movement of the mandrel 12 relative tothe slip assembly. The flattened external faces of the upper endenlargement of the mandrel constitutes a slip actuator by which theslips may be actuated into gripping engagement with the interior of thewash-over pipe upon downward movement of the mandrel relative to theslip assembly, and whereby the "slipsmay also be disengaged from thewash-over pipe to 'l'elease'the spear when the mandrel is moved upwardly4 relative to the slip assembly, or when slips are moved downwardly, asupon downward movement of the washover pipe. I

The polygonal shape in cross-section of the slip actuator, when inengagement with the inner fiat faces of the slips, will cause the slipsto tightly grip the interior of the wash-over pipe when expanded, uponrotation of the wash-over pipe 10 so that the mandrel 12 is caused torotate with the wash-over pipe .10.

In making use of the invention, constructed as described above, thespear assembly is placed in the wash-over pipe 10 at the well surface,and the mandrel 12 is moved longitudinally relative to the slips 32, toset the slips in the wash-over'pipe, whereby'the spear unit is supportedin the wash-over pipe. The pin 30 disposed in the upper portion of theslot 26 as illustrated in Figure 2, depicts the going-in position of theapparatus. The washover pipe is then lowered into the well bore, withthe apparatus in the condition illustrated in Figure 2, itbeing'understood that the wash-over pipe is connected at its upper endto a tubular operating string of pipe (not shown).

The wash-over pipe 10 is lowered in the well until the lower threadedend 71 of the pin 20 engages the upper end of the stuck pipe or .drillcollar (not shown), whereupon the Wash-over pipe may be rotated torotate the mandrel 12 to connect'the spear unit to the'stuckpipe, afterwhich the wash-over pipe may be moved downwardly while fluid iscirculated through the operating string and the mandrel 12 and upwardlyabout the washover pipe. It will be apparent that the threaded pin 20may be provided with a plurality of transversely extending apertures(not shown) communicating from the pin bore and the mandrel '12 topermit fluid circulation from the mandrel and upwardly about the washpipe, which is old and well known in the art, as is shown in the patent.to Howard, 2,502,567, or Le Bus, 2,887,161 and 2,887,162. As soon asthe spear has been connected with the fish downward movement of thewash-over pipe causes the slip cage to be moved downwardly relative tothe mandrel 12, to movethe slips downwardly relative to theslip-engaging faces 60 of the mandrel, so that the slips will be movedto disengaged positions, as seen in Figure 3, to permit the wash-overpipe to be freely rotated and moved downwardly relativeto the fish. Itwill be apparent that an annulus 61 is provided between the mandrel 12and the wash-over pipe 10.

During downward movement of the wash-overpipe or outer housing10, thepin 30 will move downwardly in the slot 26, to the position shown inFigure 3. In the event that it should becomes necessary to remove thewash-over pipe independently of the spear assembly, this may beaccomplished by moving the wash-over pipe upwardly, the cylindrical cage64 being moved upwardly therewith, to move the slip cage upwardly untilthe pin 30 is opposite the branch slot 28 of the slot 26, whereupon themandrel may be rotated to move the pin into the branch slot, to hold theslips 32 out of engagement with the actuating .faces 60 of the mandrel.With the slips thus held in disengaged position the wash-over pipe maybe moved freely upwardly oif of the spear.

Should the fish become released in the well bore, during the wash-overoperation, and start to fall downwardly in the bore, the mandrel 12 willhe suddenly moved downwardly relative to the slip cage 24, to actuatethe slips 32 into gripping engagement with the wash-over pipe to connectthe fish to the wash-over pipe, whereupon the fish may be moved upwardlywith the wash-over pipe and removed from the well.

In removing the equipment from the well with the fish attached to thespear the opening string may be disconnected in the usual manner, onesection at a time,-as it is withdrawn from-the well, until the upper endof the wash-over pipe is reached, whereupon the upper end'of the mandrel12 may beconnected to the lower end of a operation may be resumed.

drill ..pipe, by means'of the internally threaded 1 6,

and the slips 32 may be disengaged from thewash-over pipe by movingthemandrel upwardly, the pin 30 being then engaged in thebranch slot 28,by rotation of the mandrel to hold the slips released condition. Thespear may then be lowered in the wash-over pipe, which is held againstdownward movement by the customary ro-.

tary table mechanism, until the spear is insideof thealowerrnbst sectionof the wash-over pipe; The spear'may thenbe reenga'ged withthe wash-overpipe by rotating the pin .30 out of the branch slot 28 and the drillpipe disconnected from the spear, whereupon-the-wash-over pipe'may beremoved from'the well with the fish con nected thereto by the spean Inthis manner the washover pipe and .fish;may be readily removed from the:

well without the necessity of carrying. out a laborious and timeconsuming stripping operation which has been customarilyemployedaheretofore with wash-over equipment. I a During thewashing-over operation the wash-over pipe is lowered relative to thespearuntil it becomes necessary 7 PM for any reason pump pressure.cannot be used, or f is. insufficient to hold the restricted flowdevice, then the wash-over pipe. may be lifted to setthe slips and againlowered to release the same and to engage the, pin 30 in the branch slot28, to hold the slips in released position. The wash-over pipe may thenbe movedupwardly until the kelly is out of the rotary drive mechanism atthe top of the well, topermittheaddition of additional drill pipe to theletting-in string after which the wash-over.

By pumping down in the wash-over pipe, pump pressure. may be'used tohold "the flow restrictingfdevice against upward movement, to holdtheslips released, to prevent wear on the slips while rotating thewash-over pipe during the wash-overoperation, but in the event that thefish should become unstuok and start to fall, then the mandrel 12 willmove downwardly suddenly to set the slips, so that the fish will beconnected to the washover pipe. 7

It will thus be apparent that the hydraulic pressure application on theflow restriction member or fluid packer 4648 will provide for a staticpositioning of the slip cage 24 during any upward movement of the washpipe 10, and thereby preventing engagement of the slips during thismovement of the pipe 10. The static positioning of the slip cage byhydraulic pressure is an important feature of this invention in that itprevents engagement of the slips during a vertical reciprocation of thewash pipe in the well bore which-may be done many times in an attempt tolocate pin and locking mechanisms, such as 28 and 30, or similar lockingmechanisms which are well known in fishing tools of this type. It willbe apparent that the application of hydraulic pressure to a fluid packermember for static positioning of a slip cage is not limited to a fishingtool of the type depicted in the present invention, but could also beutilized on similar well bore tools, such as pipe cutters, productionpackers or any place where a tool has to be set and released in an outertubular string for any particular purpose.

With the use of the hydraulic actuated packer member 4648, the frictiondogs 68 in the present invention are mainly assisting members which canbe used in case the packer 46 would be ruptured or the like.Furthermore, the dogs 68 through connection of the buttress threads 5'i. 59 provide more friction the efiiciency of the packer for holdingthe slip cage 24 in a position to prevent engagement of the slips 32.f

It will thus be seen that theinvention, constructed and loss of the fishin the event that the same shouldbecome unstuck during the washing-overoperation.

The invention has been disclosed herein in connection with a certainspecific embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this isintended by way of illustration only, and that numerous changes can bemade in the construction and arrangement of the various parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having this clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'; Wash-over retrieving apparatus comprising a washoverfpipe, a tubularmandrel positioned in the wash-over pipe in a manner to provide anannulus therebetween and for' longitudinal movement relative thereto,means for connecting the lower end of the mandrel to the upper end of apipe in a well bore, a slip cage on and movable longitudinally relativeto the mandrel, pipe engaging slips carried by the cage for radialmovementrelative to the cage into and out of gripping engagement withthe sur-' rounding wash-over pipe, means on the'mandrel positioned toengage the slips to move the slips into gripping longitudinal movementof the mandrel and cage in the other direction, flow restriction meansmounted on the cage and operating under the influence of an increase offluid pressure inthe annulus above the flow restriction means forsupporting the cage substantially stationary relative to the mandrelduring longitudinal movement of the wash-over pipe. 2. In a well tooldisposed in a well bore and comprising an outer housing, a tubularmandrel positioned therein for longitudinal movement relative theretoand providing an annulus therebetween, a slip cage provided on andmovable longitudinal relative to the mandrel, a plurality of slipsmounted on the cage to be movable relative to the cage from a normallyretracted position out of engagement with the housing to an expandedposition engaging the housing, said mandrel having means for expandingthe slips, flow restriction means mounted on the cage and operatingunder the influence of an increase of fluid pressure in the wash-overpipe above the flow restriction means for supporting the cagesubstantially stationary bore, a slip cage carried by the mandrel forrotatable and longitudinal movement relative thereto, pipe en gagingslips carried by the cage and movable relative. to the cage from anormally retracted position out of to assist rdtation of thecage 24 inthe positioning of the pin 30 inf the slot, 28 for a locked position ofthe slip cage 24. It will be apparent that while the presentinventionshows these auxiliary features, the hydraulic fluid packer 46-48 ismore-efficient in that the pumped pressure at the surface may beincreased to increase the displacement of fluid] through the tool andthe mandrel 12, thereby increasing engagement with the wash-over pipe toan expanded position engaging the wash-over pipe, means on the, mandrelfor expanding the slips, means on the slips for retracting the slipswhen in a non-engaging position with the wash-over pipe, fluid lock oflmeans for preventing movement of the slip cage during movement of' thewash-over pipe, said fluid lock olf means comprising a flow restrictionmeans mounted on the cage and responsive to anincrease of fluid pressurein the annulus above the flow restriction means to maintain the cagesubstantially stationary relative to the mandrel during longitudinalmovement of the wash-over pipe.

4. In a wash-over retrieving apparatus for use in wells comprising awash-over pipe, tubular mandrel positioned in the wash-over pipe forlongitudinal movement relative thereto and providing an annulus forfluid flow therebetween, means for connecting the lower end of themandrel to the upper end of a pipe in a well bore, a slip cage carriedby the mandrel for rotatable and longitudinal movement relative thereto,pipe engaging slips carried by the cage and movable relative to the cagefrom a normally retracted position out of engagement with the wash-overpipe to an expanded position engaging the wash-over pipe, means on themandrel for expanding the slips, means on the slips for retracting theslips when in a non-engaging position with the washover pipe, fluid lockoff means for preventing movement of the slip cage during movement ofthe washover pipe, said fluid lock off means comprising a flowrestriction means mounted on the cage and responsive to an increase offluid pressure in the annulus above the flow restriction means tomaintain the cage substantially stationary relative to the mandrelduring longitudinal movement of the wash-over pipe, auxiliary lock offmeans for the slip cage comprising a pin provided on the slip cage, aplurality of slots provided on the mandrel for receiving the pin,friction means mounted on the mandrel and engaging the wash-over pipeand movable therewith, said friction means adapted to be engaged withthe slip cage upon upward movement of the wash-over pipe for moving thecage pin into aposition in the slots whereby rotation of the wash-overpipe will lock the pin in one of the slots and prevent further movementof the slip cage upon continued movement of the wash-over pipe.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the friction means arereleasable connected with the slip cage.

6. Wash-over retrieving apparatus comprising a washover pipe, a tubularmandrel positioned in the washover pipe in a manner to provide anannulus therebetween and for longitudinal movement relatively thereto,means for connecting the lower end of the mandrel to the upper end of apipe in a well bore, a slip cage on and movable longitudinally relativeto the mandrel, pipe engaging slips carried by the cage for radialmovement relative to the cage into and out of gripping engagement withthe surrounding wash-over pipe, means on the mandrel positioned toengage the slips to move the slips into gripping engagement with thewash-over pipe upon longitudinal movement of the mandrel and cage in onedirection, and means to disengage the slips to permit the slips to moveout of gripping engagement with the wash-over pipe upon longitudinalmovement of the mandrel and cage in the other direction, a plu- V ralityof independent lock ofli' means for preventing movement of the slip cageduring an upward vertical movement of the wash-over pipe, one of saidlock 011? means comprising a flow restriction member mounted on the cageand responsive to an increase of fluid pressure in the annulus above theflow restriction member to maintain the cage substantially stationaryrelative to the mandrel during longitudinal movement of the Washoverpipe, another of said lock ofl means comprising a pin provided on theslip cage, a plurality of slots provided on the mandrel for receivingthe pin, friction dogs mounted on the mandrel and engaging the washover'pipe for movement therewith, said friction dogs adapted to be releasablyconnected with the slip cage for moving the cage pin into a position inthe slots whereby rotation of the wash-over pipe will lock the pin inone of the slots and prevent further movement of the slip cage uponcontinued movement of the washover pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,481,637 Yancey Sept. 13, 1949 2,716,457 Le Rouax Aug. 30, 19552,762,438 Naylor Sept. 11, 1956 2,884,069 Brown Apr. 28, 1959 2,887,161Le Bus May 19, 1959 2,887,162 Le Bus May 19, 1959

